Since the 2018 IAEA-FEC conference, in addition to expanding the parameter horizons of the ADITYA-U machine, emphasis has been given to dedicated experiments on inductively driven particle injection (IPI) for disruption studies, runaway electron (RE) dynamics and mitigation, plasma rotation reversal, radiative-improved modes using Ne and Ar injection, modulation of magneto–hydrodynamic modes, edge turbulence using periodic gas puffs and electrode biasing (E-B). Plasma parameters close to the design parameters of circular plasmas with H2 and D2 as fuel have been realized, and the shaped plasma operation has also been initiated. Consistent plasma discharges having IP ∼ 100–210 kA, t ∼ 300–400 ms, ne ∼ 3–6 × 1019 m−3, core Te ∼ 300–500 eV were achieved with a maximum BT of ∼1.5 T. The enhanced plasma parameters are the outcome of repeated cycles of baking (135 °C), followed by extensive wall conditioning, which includes pulsed glow discharge cleaning in H, He and Ar–H mixture, and lithiumization. A higher confinement time has been observed in D2 compared to H2 plasmas. Furthermore, shaped plasmas are attempted for the first time in ADITYA-U. A first of its kind inductively driven particle injection for disruption mitigation studies has been developed and operated. The injection of solid particles into the plasma core leads to a fast current quench. Two pulses of electron cyclotron resonance wave at 42 GHz are launched in a single discharge: one pulse is used for pre-ionization and the second for heating. In a novel approach, a positively biased electrode is used to confine REs after discharge termination. E-B is also used for controlling the rotation of drift-tearing modes by changing the plasma rotation. Cold pulse propagation and signatures of detachment are observed during the injection of short gas puffs. A correlation between the plasma toroidal rotation and the total radiated power has been observed with neon gas injection-induced improved confinement modes.